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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 120 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  10. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  11. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  12. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  13. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  14. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. wake — a trail
  3. can — to be able to
  4. fall — the season
  5. face — part of the head
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. can — a tin
  9. face — to point toward
  10. wake — to stop sleeping
  11. craft — a skill
  12. face — to confront
  13. craft — a handicraft
  14. season — in sport
  15. lie — to recline
  16. fall — to drop
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. wake — before a funeral
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. craft — boats
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. fall — to drop
  24. season — of the year

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com